News Summary
Four San Diego restaurants have made Yelp’s Top 100 Taco Spots in the U.S. for 2025, highlighting the city’s vibrant taco culture and diverse culinary options. Topping the list inside this competitive taco market are Roxy’s Tacos, The Waves Taco Club, The Craft Tacos at SOVA, and Terrific Tacos, showcasing everything from pescatarian to authentic Tijuana street tacos. With California leading the rankings, San Diego’s taco scene continues to thrive, attracting food lovers with its rich flavors and innovative offerings.
San Diego has gained recognition in the culinary world as four local eateries have made it onto Yelp’s newly released list of the Top 100 Taco Spots in the United States for 2025. This ranking showcases the thriving taco scene in San Diego and the diversity of its offerings, with a range of options catering to various dietary preferences.
At the forefront of this year’s list, Roxy’s Tacos, located at 815 C St. in East Village, ranks at number 73. Known for its intimate atmosphere and a menu rich in pescatarian options, Roxy’s Tacos is carving out its niche in the competitive taco market. Following closely is The Waves Taco Club, which is situated at 916 Fifth Ave. in the lively Gaslamp District. This eatery is especially popular on Taco Tuesdays and boasts fresh daily guacamole along with three distinct kinds of salsa, earning them the 59th spot.
Not to be overlooked is The Craft Tacos at SOVA, placed at number 45, which is the first San Diego establishment to break into the top 50. Located off Sorento Valley Road, SOVA is recognized for its innovative craft tacos such as the unique Baja Poke Tacos and Bulgogi Tacos. Lastly, Terrific Tacos, a catering cart noted for delivering an authentic Tijuana street taco experience, has snagged the 13th position on the list. They are celebrated for their birria tacos and churro balls, which serve as a delightful dessert option.
The top spot on this esteemed list has been awarded to Birrieria Familia Castro, which is based in North Hollywood, California. Overall, California takes the lead with a substantial total of 45 eateries represented in the rankings. In contrast, Texas has secured nine spots, benefitting from a growing demand for plant-based tacos, a reflection of current culinary trends. Notably, the rise in popularity of “birria” is apparent, appearing in the names of seven taco establishments on the list.
The list’s rankings rely on a combination of Yelp data and user reviews, highlighting not only the individual popularity of each establishment but also reflecting broader culinary trends across the country. While some areas, such as Alaska and Georgia, only have one or two taco spots featured, other regions remain unrepresented entirely, with a dozen states having none at all.
San Diego’s diverse taco scene showcases a vibrant mix of both traditional and innovative taco offerings. The four establishments that made it to the national list exemplify this blend, appealing to a variety of diets that include carnivore, pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan options. However, while these four taco spots have gained national recognition, there remains a host of local favorites in San Diego that did not make the list, raising questions about the visibility and marketing strategies employed among Yelp users.
Despite the fierce competition, the San Diego taco scene continues to thrive, attracting residents and visitors alike with its rich flavors and diverse dining choices. As culinary trends evolve and more taco spots emerge, it will be interesting to see how this vibrant food culture further develops in the future.
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Additional Resources
- San Diego Union Tribune: Yelp’s Top 100 Taco Spots
- Eater San Diego: Best Local Tacos
- NBC San Diego: Tacos El Franc Opening
- Axios: Tacos El Franc First US Location
- Times of San Diego: Taco Bell’s Live Mas Cafe Opens
- Wikipedia: Taco
- Google Search: Taco History
- Google Scholar: Taco Cuisine
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Taco
- Google News: Taco Trends
Author: STAFF HERE SAN DIEGO WRITER
SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER The SAN DIEGO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanDiego.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Diego, San Diego County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Comic-Con International, San Diego County Fair, and San Diego Pride Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Diego County, plus leading businesses in biotechnology, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECostaMesa.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
